Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA) Reaches New 52-Week High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Natera, Inc. reached a new 52-week high with shares trading at $184.26, a significant increase from the previous close of $179.42.
• Analysts have largely favorable ratings for NTRA, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $194.06, indicating potential for further gains.
• The company reported quarterly earnings showing a revenue increase of 32.2% year-over-year, despite missing earnings per share expectations.

Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $183.00 and last traded at $184.26, with a volume of 60419 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $179.42.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NTRA has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $183.00 target price on shares of Natera in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Evercore ISI raised Natera to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $170.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Natera in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $195.00 price objective on shares of Natera in a report on Sunday, August 10th. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $210.00 target price (up previously from $190.00) on shares of Natera in a report on Friday, August 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $194.06.

Natera Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $25.34 billion, a P/E ratio of -96.56 and a beta of 1.74. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $166.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $157.80.

Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The medical research company reported ($0.74) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.60) by ($0.14). The firm had revenue of $546.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $476.84 million. Natera had a negative net margin of 12.89% and a negative return on equity of 22.22%. Natera's quarterly revenue was up 32.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($0.30) earnings per share. Natera has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Natera, Inc. will post -1.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Natera

In other Natera news, CEO Steven Leonard Chapman sold 14,083 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total value of $2,253,280.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 154,072 shares of the company's stock, valued at $24,651,520. This trade represents a 8.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Michael Burkes Brophy sold 3,045 shares of Natera stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.40, for a total transaction of $418,383.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 65,430 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,990,082. This represents a 4.45% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 72,464 shares of company stock worth $10,963,125 in the last 90 days. 5.63% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natera

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NTRA. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC lifted its position in Natera by 30.8% during the first quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,986 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $308,000 after purchasing an additional 468 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Natera during the second quarter worth about $1,525,000. Amalgamated Bank increased its stake in shares of Natera by 9.8% during the first quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 8,293 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $1,173,000 after purchasing an additional 740 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank increased its stake in shares of Natera by 24.1% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 141,106 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $19,954,000 after purchasing an additional 27,379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Natera by 32.3% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 848 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $120,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. 99.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Natera

Natera, Inc, a diagnostics company, develops and commercializes molecular testing services worldwide. Its products include Panorama, a non-invasive prenatal test that screens for chromosomal abnormalities of a fetus, as well as in twin pregnancies; Horizon carrier screening test for individuals and couples determine if they are carriers of genetic variations that cause certain genetic conditions; Vistara single-gene NIPT screens for 25 single-gene disorders that cause severe skeletal, cardiac, and neurological conditions; Spectrum, preimplantation genetic tests for couples undergoing IVF; Anora that analyzes miscarriage tissue from women; Empower, a hereditary cancer screening test; and non-invasive prenatal paternity product, which allows a couple to establish paternity without waiting for the child to be born.

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